Forest Fires and wildfires have long been a part of natural cycle of growth across the earth, and have been both a blessing and curse to mankind. The management of wildfires has changed drastically over the centuries, from early efforts to extinguish every fire to modern wildfire management, where fire is used as tool to manage forests to ensure they remain healthy and vibrant ecosystems.

Wildfires, or bushfires as they are called in Australia and New Zealand, are defined as an uncontrolled fire burning in an undeveloped or lightly developed area, [Page 206]and are associated with the burning of natural vegetation rather than structures. As these fires approach developed areas, they are referred to as wildland-urban interface fires. This is often the case in areas of ...